Webb took 28 credits from January through June so he could graduate from Kansas early and enroll at Colorado with two years of eligibility left.

He was smart enough to see the writing on the wall at KU when Turner Gill was abruptly fired and Charlie Weis was hired.

He wisely identified CU as a program where his position was up for grabs and an experienced hand was needed right away.

He was able to grasp the teachings and playbook of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer quickly and was named the CU starter about a month after setting foot on campus.

And Webb clearly understands why Connor Wood will also be playing Saturday against Fresno State in the Buffs' third game of the season.

"Whenever you're 0-2 and you lose to two teams that I guess on paper you're not supposed to lose to, things have to get shaken up a little bit," Webb said this week when I asked him about Jon Embree's decision to go with a two-quarterback system at Bulldog Stadium. "I've just got to try and make things work."

The degree in psychology Webb packed with him on the trip from Lawrence is already paying off in Boulder.

Playing at KU, where Webb experienced four wins in 19 starts, was good mental preparation for life with the bumbling Buffs.

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KU was last in the Big 12 in total offense and ninth out of 10 teams in passing offense last season. After a 2-0 start to the 2011 campaign, the Jayhawks lost 10 consecutive games (including an 0-9 record in conference play).

That's now a personal 12-game losing skid for Webb under center.

Despite playing a bad Rams team with a rookie head coach and an FCS foe coming off a 30-point loss at New Mexico State, CU is ninth in scoring offense and 12th in passing offense (in the Pac-12) through two miserable Saturdays.

Webb has completed 34-of-65 passes (52.3 percent) for 347 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. By comparison, Fresno State starter Derek Carr has completed 49-of-72 passes (68.1 percent) for 532 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

A play made here or there by an experienced signal caller and this flawed CU squad would be a perfect 2-0 against the easy part of the 2012 schedule.

"I've missed some throws that I normally don't miss," Webb said. "I'd like to say that won't happen again, but I've got to bounce back if it does."

Since Webb was named the starter, Wood has focused on preparing for his chance to finally step into the spotlight.

No one on the team watches more film than the Texas transfer. No one has been watching the live action on the field with more focus than Wood.

The moment Webb's helmet came off while getting sacked for a 9-yard loss in the third quarter against Sacramento State, the backup was buttoning his chin strap and rushing out to execute a third-and-18.

By new NCAA rule, which Wood had also studied up on, a player must sit out for at least one play when his helmet comes off on the previous snap.

"I didn't really think about it. I prepared myself for a moment like that," Wood said. "When I got the play, I was in a zone. I wasn't really paying attention to anything else except executing that play."

Wood threw a screen pass to freshman wide receiver Gerald Thomas for a 28-yard gain. The chains moved and five plays later the Buffs took a 28-24 lead on Christian Powell's third touchdown run.

The last four drives of the game with Webb at the controls? Punt. Punt. Punt. Punt.

"Even just one play helps your confidence I guess," Wood said of the news that he will have an opportunity to spark the offense on this given Saturday. "Coming in this week understanding I will get some playing time, my preparation won't change. I've always been a hard worker.

"But it does add a little spice to the week."

When CU's No. 2 enters the game Saturday night -- Embree said Wood should direct either the third or fourth drive -- he will command the respect of the huddle.

"To me, it's whoever is going to win us the game. They're both good quarterbacks and I trust both of them," Thomas said. "Connor, even though he didn't win the job, I know how bad he wanted it because me and him talked during the summer.

"He didn't bring any negativity when Jordan won it, he kept his head up and he's just waiting for his time to be called."

Negativity is a word you hear a lot around CU football these days.

Let's face it, leading this Buffs team to a road victory is going to be difficult for either of these quarterbacks.

The Bulldogs of the Mountain West are 15-point favorites for good reason.

Starting center Gus Handler (ankle) is out for CU.

Fresno State will be prepared for Powell, who made a surprise start and was the only bright spot in the 30-28 loss to Sacramento State at Folsom Field.

Carr plans to carve up a CU secondary that will be without Ray Polk and likely Greg Henderson, which means defensive coordinator Greg Brown is once again relying on three true freshmen.

Bulldogs running back Robbie Rouse is averaging 119 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry.

Fresno State's aggressive 3-4 defense forced four fumbles in a 42-25 loss at No, 4 Oregon, recovering three of them.

The Bulldogs are 11-5 all-time at home against Pac-12 teams.

CU would struggle in the Big Sky this fall, but Fresno State will still count this is a win over a BCS school if the home team takes care of business as expected.

"Speaking to the negativity, we can't focus on it. We have to focus on the guys who are working their butts off seven days a week," Webb said. "People outside the room can say what they want, but we know that we're working, we know who we're working for, and we'll continue to do that."

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